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Welcome to the Vermont Model Criminal Jury Instructions. The instructions are sponsored by the Vermont Bar Association.
Use the drop-down menus above or the search function below to find individual instructions and the accompanying reporter's notes.
In addition, clicking on the menu headers above will show a table of contents for that section, and there is also a master table of contents available. Long-time users of the instructions will find the master table of contents to be in the familiar format.
Search for an Instruction:
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You may search for an instruction by using the name of the crime (e.g., kidnapping) or by using the statutory citation (e.g., 13 V.S.A. 2405 or, more simply, 2405). Note that the search software is simply reading the text on each page, and thus doesn't recognize "VSA" without the periods.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Sexual Exploitation of an Inmate
July 11, 2018: The Committee has posted a new instruction for the crime of Sexual Exploitation of an Inmate. That instruction is available here.
New “Juror Prohibitions” Instruction
July 5, 2018: The Committee has added a new instruction on juror prohibitions, including juror use of electronic devices, upon separation following voir dire and before the start of trial. That instruction is available here.
Various Revisions
January 12, 2018: The Committee has revised various reporter’s notes to include citations to two recent Vermont Supreme Court decisions, State v. Bean, 2016 VT 73, 202 Vt. 361 and State v. Dow, 2016 VT 91, 202 Vt. 616. Additionally, … Continue reading
Voyeurism
January 11, 2018: The Committee has drafted new instructions and reporter’s notes for the crime of voyeurism, 13 V.S.A. § 2605. The instructions and notes are available here.
Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult
November 20, 2017: The Committee has drafted new instructions for the crime of Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult, 13 V.S.A. § 1380. Those instructions are available here.
Possession of Child Pornography
July 18, 2017: The Committee has posted a new instruction and accompanying reporter’s note for the crime of Possession of Child Pornography, 13 V.S.A. § 2827. The new instruction, CR27-741, is available here.
Speeding (Judicial Bureau Appeals)
June 15, 2017: The Committee has added new instructions for appeals from the Judicial Bureau of speeding violations. Those appeals may be heard as a de novo jury trial in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court. The instructions are … Continue reading
Luring a Child
June 15, 2017: The Committee has added a new instruction for the crime of Luring a Child, 13 V.S.A. § 2828. The new instruction, CR27-761, is available here.
Preliminary Instructions
May 8, 2017: The Committee has updated the instruction and reporter’s note for “Juror Prohibitions, Including Juror Use of Electronic Devices” (CR01-031) to reflect that courts should explicitly instruct the jury not to discuss the case amongst themselves until deliberations … Continue reading
Reporter’s Note Revisions
April 24, 2017: The Committee has made Reporter’s Note revisions to the following sections to incorporate recent case law: Simple Assault (physical menace) – CR22-041 Aggravated Assault (threatened another with deadly weapon) – CR22-098 Unanimous Verdict – CR04-081